A 37-year-old demonstrator, Alex Pretti, was killed by border patrol agents in Minnesota last week. His death sparked international outrage. It also prompted the Trump administration to back down from its most strenuous immigration enforcement positions. The FT’s Washington bureau chief James Politi and deputy Washington bureau chief Lauren Fedor look ahead at what the administration’s pivot could mean for deportations and the president’s remaining time in office. Plus, the FT’s US economics editor Claire Jones breaks down Trump’s pick for chair of the Federal Reserve.

Mentioned in this podcast:

US plans ICE drawdown in Minnesota after outcry over immigration raids

How Donald Trump was forced to back off his harshest immigration tactics

Donald Trump nominates Kevin Warsh as Federal Reserve chair

Sign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter here

Swamp Notes is hosted by Marc Filippino and produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz and the FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.

CREDIT: The White House, NBC News, Roll Call, Forbes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An affordability crisis is sweeping through the US. High prices of food, rents and healthcare are forcing Americans to cut back on necessities. This comes as President Donald Trump’s administration is curbing government support. Sonja Hutson visits Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and the surrounding Lehigh Valley, and learns how residents are trying to make ends meet.

Mentioned in this podcast:

‘Scraping for crumbs’: Americans squeezed by affordability crisis

Inside Trump’s America

Swamp Notes: The Bethlehem Project is produced by Sonja Hutson and Henry Larson, and edited by Marc Filippino. The show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Our Executive Producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s Global Head of Audio. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before his trip to Davos this week, Donald Trump threatened tariffs, and even hinted at using military force, to take over Greenland. The US president’s fixation ripped open a diplomatic wound that has been growing steadily over the past year. The Council on Foreign Relations' Benn Steil and the FT’s US foreign affairs correspondent Abigail Hauslohner explain how this week may have reshaped the western world permanently.

Mentioned in this podcast:

‘Waiting for the king’: how Trump dominated Davos

Broad mandate of Trump’s Board of Peace sets it up for rivalry with UN

Read Benn’s column in The Dispatch

Credit: The World Economic Forum, Roll Call

Sign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter here

Swamp Notes is hosted by Marc Filippino and produced by Henry Larson. This week’s show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Help from Lauren Fedor The FT’s acting co head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.